Nature
Magnolias
The blooms are only at their best for a few days. Fortunately this year, a rainfall and a couple of overnight freezes waited until after they were finished.
Admiring the daffodils
I was surprised the squirrel would be so bold as to stand still there while I got closer with the camera. Since we lost Cadbury they’ve had no worries, as Roxie generally can’t be bothered to chase them. But yesterday, Jammer the new dog arrived, so perhaps they’ll learn to be a bit more cautious.
Finished!
I’ve finished splitting the big white oak behind the blue bench garden. We’d had to have it cut down and cut up by Mitchell’s Tree Service. Thank you, Denny, for lending me your splitter! Now I’ll spend the next few weeks wheel-barrowing it all to the wood pile in the back.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
Tufted titmouse about 7am, with 5″ of snow on the ground. We had another inch by noon, and initially thought we were snowed in for the day. Again, schools and government offices were all closed. But we were able to get out in the afternoon to attend the event commemorated a bit later.
Our first flowers of the spring
Thurmont, Maryland
Lunch and a pint of Guinness at the Shamrock Restaurant twice this week, with Sandy, Judy, and Alex. The picture is not of the restaurant, but looking west from behind the restaurant. It’s on US 15 a few miles south of Gettysburg. Roads were fine on this trip except for the 10 country miles closest to home, where they were mostly packed white. This was the day after yet another government-closing, school-closing snowstorm which brought our house about 7″ of unusually sand-like snow. By starting early, I was able (in two sessions) to clear the entire driveway with the leaf-blower.
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Roxie the Good Dog
Roxie hates to go out in the dark (or the rain or the cold), but as a Good Dog given adequately stern instruction, she will gingerly tip-toe her way out the path into the woods by herself to do her business. When she’s done, she bolts full-tilt back into the house. If we didn’t stand aside we could get bowled over.
Eastern Goldfinch
Usually our most plentiful feeder visitors.
Slate-colored Junco
We may see even more juncos than goldfinches.